Today we’d like to introduce you to Haley Evans.
Hi Haley, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My personal story began years ago, back in collegeI I started my first business, Say Anything, where I wrote custom poems & roasts to commemorate life’s milestone moments. I’ve started several other businesses since then, wrote several books, then finally pushed my entrepreneurial dreams to the side to focus on my “real” job (the profitable one that also covered my insurance!) and raising my three children.
Altachè’s story began in 2023 in the lobby of the Margaritaville Hotel in Ft. Lauderale, Florida where my umpteenth pair of NEW sunglasses fell from my shirt collar onto their beautifully tiled floor and cracked. With my beloved, broken glasses in hand, I looked around a bustling lobby with travelers, tourist, and fellow sales people ALL with glasses precariously perched on their shirt collars and on their heads, wondering why I could clip a pen to my shirt but not my glasses. My flight home that day was delayed and by the time I got home, I had the idea for Altachè almost baked in a spiral bound notebook I bought at the airport.
It took a year and a half to bring Altachè from an idea in that notebook to a tangible product and even longer to develop the elevated branding and packaging I had envisioned. It took a very small team of incredibly talented people to make it happen (5 x 5-Marketing, Hello Nomads-all things branding/creative and Ristich, LLC who did our initial prototyping and 3D sampling) and my husband and are forever grateful for their expertise and enthusiasm to bring our vision to life!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Ha! No, it has not been smooth! Our first prototype did not work, and we almost ditched the entire idea. Then we went to pursue a trademark and were denied because the original name of our company was not available. We were very committed to getting a trademark, so we decided to change the name which was an expensive and administrative nightmare. Bottom line, we have had hiccups along the way and luckily my husband and I have taken turns talking each other off the ledge. We’ve also had the unwavering support of our small team to elevate our spirits and cheer us on.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I struggled in college to figure out what I wanted to do and be when I graduated, so I settled on Marketing and took a job as a sales rep. For twenty-two years, I sold diverse products to diverse customers and ultimately found my way to a remote headquarter Brand Marketing role. I had always loved professional sales, but the marketing role set my heart on fire, and it was there that I realized my true love was bringing brands to life. In some ways, it’s like having a baby except you get to choose EVERYTHING about it: the name, the color, the personality, etc. Ultimately, I am a dreamer, so having a team of creative people to help bring my ideas and dreams to life is the most satisfying work I’ve ever been a part of. Plus, if shopping and accessorizing were a sport, I’d be an Olympian, so the opportunity to create my very own line of proprietary eyewear accessories has been SO much fun!
Additionally, my husband and Altachè co-founder spent 25+ years in Supply Chain Management and, most recently, manages the North American Distribution Centers for his company. Our combined experience has set us up really well for the challenges we’ve faced in bringing Altachè to market and it also provides a clear division of responsibilities.
What’s next?
We are laser-focused on driving awareness for our brand. As a first-in-class, patent-pending product, we don’t have the luxury of riding the wave other’s have created. We aren’t another water bottle or purse or yoga mat. We are an entirely new category that has never existed before and that requires getting out in the world and spreading the talking to people about the portfolio: press (like this!), the Atlanta Market in July, pop-ups (any and everywhere), and talking to anyone who will listen.
Pricing:
- Altachè Eyewear Clips $28
- Altachè Eyewear Charms $38
- Altachè Trendsetter Set (Clip + Charm) $58
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.AltacheDesigns.com
- Instagram: @Altache.Designs
- Facebook: @Altache.Designs
- Other: tik tok @Altache.Designs
